TODD'S TAVERN, Engagements at The Virg.inia campaign of 1864 began on 4 May by the advance of the Army of the Poto mac across the Rapidan, the cavalry divisions of Generals Gregg and J. H. Wilson leading.
Wilson crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and marched rapidly by Wilderness Tavern to Parker's Store, from which he sent a recon noitsance toward Mine Run, the rest of his division going into bivouac. During the night he was ordered by General Meade to advance in the direction of Craig's Church, leaving one regiment to hold Parker's Store. Just beyond Craig's Church Wilson encountered Rosser's Confederate cavalry, which was driven back two miles, and at noon, as he had heard noth ing of the approach of Meade's infantry, and his own position was threatened, he began to withdraw to Parker's Store, when he heard that theregiment left there had been attacked by Confederate infantry, and that he was cut off from communication with General Meade's in fantry. He determined to withdraw on the Catharpin road, by way of Shady Grove Church, to Todd's Tavern, on the Brock road. Before he was fairly on the road he was attacked in heavy force and followed by cavalry, but he reached Todd's Tavern by crossing the Po River at Corbin's bridge. A part of his com mand was cut off, but came in later in the day. As he approached Todd's Tavern he was re lieved by Gregg's division, which, by Meade's direction, Sheridan had sent to assist him, and Stuart's cavalry, which was closely following Wilson, was driven back by Gregg to Shady Grove Church, about four miles. Sheridan was holding the left flank of the army, and covering its trains, while it was grappling with Lee in the Wilderness, and on the 6th had two di visions at Todd's Tavern, covering the roads centring at this point, where he was attacked early in the day by Stuart, who was anxious to get at Grant's flank and his wagon train, but his successive attacks were repulsed. Meade, anxious about his left, directed Sheridan to draw back from Todd's Tavern, closer to the trains, which Sheridan did in the afternoon, and the Confederate cavalry occupied Todd's Tavern. Preliminary to Grant's movement
from the Wilderness to Spottsylvania Court House was the necessity to hold Todd's Tavern, which was midway between the two places and on the direct road connecting them; and on the 7th two brigades of Gregg's division and two of Merritt's, dismounted and fighting on foot, attacked Stuart and, after a sharp and closely contested action, drove him from Todd's Tavern, with severe losses on both sides, Fitz hugh Lee's division retreating in the direction of Spottsylvania Court House and Wade Hampton's southward to Corbin's bridge of Po River. Sheridan withdrew and encamped, Gregg's and Merritt's divisions in the open fields to the east of Todd's Tavern. Very early on the morning of the 8th Gregg was put in position to guard the roads from the south and Merritt's division renewed the engagement with Fitzhugh Lee on the Spottsylvania Court House road to open the way for the advance of Warren's Fifth corps from Todd's Tavern to the Court House. Merritt became severely engaged, but slowly gained ground until about 6 A.m., when he was relieved and Robinson's division of Warren's corps took the advance. Hancock's Second corps, following Warren's, reached Todd's Tavern at 9.30 A.M., and took position covering the Brock road, Catharpin and Spottsylvania roads, and began to intrench, holding the extreme right of the army. At 11.30 A.M. Gen. N. A. Miles' brigade, with Gregg's cavalry brigade and a battery, moved out on the Catharpin road toward Corbin's bridge, and when half a mile from it and one and one-half miles from Todd's Tavern, the head of column was opened upon with artillery from the heights on the south side of Po River. Miles formed line, his artillery replied to that of the enemy, there was a skirmish with Wade Hampton's cavalry, which was kept at bay, and at 5.30 P.M., when Miles began to withdraw, he was attacked by Mahone s division of in fantry and fell back fighting to Todd's Tavern. Consult 'Official (Vol. XXXVI).